Marine steering device



March-17, 1953 w. 1.. JONES 2,631,559

MARINE STEERING DEVICE 7 Filed May 19, 1948 2 SHEETSSI-IEET 1 March 17, 1953 w, L. JONES MARINE STEERING DEVICE '2 SHEETS-SHEET 2 Filed May 19, 1948 Patented Mar. 17, 1953 UNITED STATES ATENT OFFICE MARINE STEERING DEVICE Walter Leland Jones, Webster Groves, Mo.

Application May 19, 1948, Serial No. 28,007

This invention relates to marine steering devices, and more particularly to a portable steering apparatus for small craft.

Among the several objects of this invention may be noted the provision of a marine steering device which may be readily and conveniently mounted on small water craft of various types, sizes and contours; the provision of a device of the class described in which various elements may be expeditiously detached from a water craft without the use of hand tools; and the provision bf a device of the class described which is not susceptible to damage by floating or underwater obstructions or debris, regardless of how these are encountered. Other objects will be in part apparent and in part pointed out hereinafter.

lrhe invention accordingly comprises the elements and combinations of elements, features of construction, and arrangements of parts which will be exemplified in the structures hereinafter described, and the scope of the application of which will be indicated in the following claims.

In the accompanying drawings, in which one of various possible embodiments of the invention is illustrated,

Fig. 1 is a top plan view of the device of the present invention attached to a canoe, with parts being broken away;

Fig. 2 is a side elevation of Fig. 1, illustrating several alternative positions of parts;

Fig. 3 is the rear view of the aft portion of the device, illustrating two alternative rudder positions;

Fig. 4 is a horizontal section on an enlarged scale taken substantially along the line 4-4 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 is an enlarged explodfid perspective view of a control member pedal;

Fig. 6 is an enlarged vertical section taken substantially along line 6-6 of Fig. 1 but with the rudder in a reverse position;

Fig. 7 is an enlarged horizontal section taken substantially along line 1-'I of Fig. 2;

Fig. 8 is an enlarged vertical section taken substantially along line 88 of Fig. l; and

Fig. 9 is av horizontal section on an enlarged scale taken substantially along the line 99 of Fig. 6.

Similar reference characters indicate corresponding parts throughout the several views of the drawings.

Referring to the drawings, a water craft (canoe, for example) is indicated generally at numeral I. The rudder elements of the present invention are ind paftedgenerally by numeral 3.

8 Claims. (Cl. 114165) A contour-fitting stern clamp or attachment 5 is removably afiixed to the stern of the canoe I by means of a pintle or bolt 7. The stern attachment, bracket or clamp 5 comprises several wooden laminae 9, two pliable sheets I I, and two side plates I3. The laminae 9 have their forward surfaces shaped to correspond approximately to the contours of the stern of the canoe I. The sheets II, which may be conveniently made of canvas, are originally cut to such dimensions as to extend beyond the forward edges of side plates l3. A hardenable plastic layer I5 is located between the sheets I I and laminae 9. Side plates I3, sheets I I and laminae 9 are firmly held together by means of several bolts I'I. Farther rearward the plates I 3 are clamped by bolts 4 to opposite sides of a spacer block 2. Bolt 1 is engageable in an aperture ZI in a protector strip 23 of the canoe I to couple the clamp 5 to the stern of the canoe I. The two jaws of the clamp 5 have aligned apertures 25 and holes 21 at the outer ends of the apertures 25. The holes (shown more particularly in Fig. 7) are out only in the side plates I3 while the apertures 25 are cut through the laminae 9 as well as through the plastic layer 15 and sheets I I. An arm 29 having a circular boss 3| adapted to be journalled in each hole 21 is mounted on each side plate I3. Boss 3| is affixed to arm 29 by rivets 30. The bosses 3| each carry an eccentrically bored aperture 32 adapted to receive the bolt 1. Each arm 29 also carries at one extremity a second aperture 33 adapted to receive a locking bolt 35 and nut 33. This bolt 35 may be inserted through any one of several locking apertures 31 in clamp 5. Rotation of the arms 29 through action of the eccentrics forces the clamp 5 forward with reaction at 8 to tighten the assembly on the stern of the canoe. Arm 29 in conjunction with the eccentrically bored boss 3! may be termed a shifter.

The spacer block 2 has a recess or socket 39 at its top, covered by mounting a plate 4| held by screws 43 on the top surface of clamp 5.

A rudder bracket is quick-detachably mounted on the clamp 5 by means of a pivot comprising a pintle bolt or pivot pin 41 and a spring 49 coiled thereon. A tongue 5| of spring 49 reacts against clamp 5 to bias the pintle 41 and spring 49 to the rear of the recess 39. This is because the top surface of clamp 5 is inclined upwardly and the reactionof spring tongue 5I against it resolves into rearward and upward components of force on pintle-41. Spring 49 has its ends fitted into slots 44 of the bracket 45 and biases bracket 45 to a vertical position. Bracket 45 is roughly channel-shaped in cross section (Fig. 4) having the channel opening facin forward and adapted to fit over the aft portion of clamp 5. The bracket 45 may be removed by swinging it up as shown by dotted lines at the left of Fig. 2, and then pushing it forward out of the slot 39, taking with it the spring 45. It may be reapplied by inverse movement. A pulley 55, by means of pins 38, is mounted in a horizontal plane on each side of bracket 35. Cable guides 50 are aflixed to the sides of bracket :35 and serve to retain a control cable 52 in contact with pulleys 45. Two abutments or shoulders 53 are carried on the aft surface of bracket 45. These shoulders form a vertical socket for a rudder post bean ing 55 and serve to maintain it in a substantially vertical position by their detent action.

Rudder bearing 55 is aflixed to the rudder support by means of a bolt the shank of which projects through the bracket 3-5. The head of bolt or pivot pin 5'1 is engaged by the bearing 55 and a spring 58 serves to bias the head of bolt 57 toward bracket 45. Clamp 5 has a large aperture 50 in block 2 to receive the shank of bolt 5?, spring 55 and a nut 62 secured by a cotter pin. The rudder post bearing 55 includes a rudder post 59 having a rudder 6| adjustably mounted thereon by means of a bolt 63, a sleeve 55, a bushin 5'! and an outer sleeve or collar 69. Rudder post 59 has a series of tapped holes ll, any one of which may be aligned with an aperture 73 of sleeve 55 to receive bolt 63'. Sleeve 55 carries a crank disc anixed to its upper surface. A crank pin I9. is afiixed to the top surface of disc '55 by means of a screw or rivet I7. This crank pin it is cup-shaped and has two diametrically opposite openings 8| adapted to receive a knotted central portion of the control cable 52. Bushing 6'! has a keyhole aperture 83 in its forward surface, and diametrically opposite the constricted portion of this keyhole aperture 83 there is a bushing opening or aperture 85. Collar 59 has an aperture 8! in its forward surface and a larger aperture 83 diametrically opposite therefrom. Sleeve 55 is free to slide upward in bushing 6'! in the event the rudder, while in a straight downward motion, strikes some obstruction.

The forward portion of the steering device 3 of the present invention includes a port control member SI and starboard control member 93. One end of control cable 52 is detachably connected to member SI and the other end to member 93. The description of one control member will be sumcient. Control member 9! is quick-detachably mounted on the underside of a thwart 95 adjacent the port gunwale of boat '5. Member 9I comprises a hinge plate 91 which is afiixed to the thwart 95 by means of screws 99, a hinge member IN, a hinge pintle I03 and a pedal I55. Hinge member IIJI is affixed to pedal I55 by screws I07. Hinge member IEJI carries two hook I59 adapted to engage the pintle I03. The pedal I85 depends from thwart 95 and is adapted to be connected to the looped end of cable 52 by means of a pin I09 carried on the outer edge of pedal I55. Control member 53 is identical in construction to that of member 9|, except that the pin corresponding to pin IE9 is on the starboard side of the control member 93.

Referring now to Fig. 8, there is shown the stern clamp 5 aliixed to the stern of canoe I by means of two bolts III, prings I I3 and Wing nuts I I5.

Operation is as follows:

The stern clamp 5 (Fig. 3) is assembled by organizing side plates I3, laminae 9 and sheets II. ihey are held together by bolt I! and nuts IS. The assembled clamp 5 is then fitted against the stern of canoe I so that one pliable sheet It is against each side of canoe I. To make the inner surfaces of sheets II take the exact stern contours of canoe I, the layer I5, of hardenable plastic material such as thinned plastic wood, is interposed between laminae 9 and sheets I I. By forcing clamp 5 against the canoe after the introduction of layer I5, sheets I I will then be shaped as desired. The edges of sheets I I are trimmed to match side plate I3 and any canvas or plastic which may have gotten into jaw apertures 25 or holes 2'! is removed.

Clamp 5 is then held against the stern of canoe I so that aperture 2| may be viewed through jaw apertures 25. Bolt 1 is then inserted through the eccentrically bored boss aperture 32 of one of the arms 29 and through the strip aperture 2|. Alignment is easily accomplished as the diameter of jaw aperture 25' is considerably larger than that of the shank of bolt I. The other arm 29 is then engaged on bolt 1. By moving the outer ends of arms 29, the clamp 5 may be. moved forward and upward to fit snugly the stern contours of canoe I. When bolt 1 is thus properly aligned, locking bolt 35 is inserted through the arm aper' tures, 33 and one of the locking apertures 35 and held firm therein by nut 35.

n ome canoes, such as. those of canvas construction, it may be desired to mount. stern clamp 5 to the canoe I by using the two bolts III, as shown in Fig. 8. In the latter instance, the arms 25 may be dispensed with. In either case, how ever, the shaping of the forward surfaces of clamp 5 to match the stern contours of canoe I is advisable and easily accomplished as described above.

The rubber bearing 55 is assembled by sliding bushing 5'! into collar 69 until apertures 89 and are matched. Bolt 5! is then inserted through these apertures, the constricted portion of keyhole aperture 83, the other collar aperture 81 and bracket 45. Bushing 61 is slid downward in collar 59 until the head of bolt 51 is engaged in the large end of the keyhole aperture 83 (as shown in Fig. 7). The spring 58 is compressed by nut 52 until the desired amount of pressure is exerted against collar 59.

Sleeve 55 is then inserted into the interior of bushing 61 until crank disc I5 is flush with the upper surfaces of collar 69 and bushing 61. The assembly of rudder bearing 55 is completed by sliding the rudder post 59 into the lower end of the sleeve 55 and then inserting bolt 53 through aperture 13 so as to engage the desired aperture TI.

The rudder bearing 55 is thus aflixed to bracket 45 and may be pivoted about bolt 51. The bearing 55 is held in aligned position with bracket 45 by the combined action of abutments 53 and spring 58. The abutments in effect form a socket between them into which the bearin 55 i as d by means of spring 58. It is to be noted that the bearing surfaces between bushing and sleeve 65 substantially prevent the entry of water and abrasive particles, as aperture 85 is covered by collar 55 (Fig. 7) when the rudder bearing 55 is in an assembled condition.

The rudder bracket 45 with rudder bearing 55 mounted thereon may be easily coupled to the clamp 5 by holding bracket 45 in the dotted-line position of Fig. 2. forcin spring ton ue 5 upward and then engaging pintle '41 and spring 49 in recess 39. The reaction of tongue I against clamp 5 biases spring 49 and pintle 41 to the rear of slot 39 and this same reaction serves to bias the rudder bracket 45 in the substantially vertical solid-line position of Fig. 2. Bracket 45 is then swingable about the axis of pintle 41. To uncouple bracket 45 from clamp 5, bracket 45 is swung upward into the dotted-line position of Fig. 2 and pushed forward.

The control cable 52 is then threaded through the openings BI of crank pin I9 and the central portion knotted so as to fix it in the crank pin I9. Each end of cable 52 is passed between one guard 50 and its associated pulley 46. The looped extremities of cable 52 are then ready to be attached to the pins I99 of the control members 9i and 93.

Each pedal I95 is coupled to its hinge plate 99 by holding the pedal in the dotted-line position A of Fig. 2 and engaging hooks I99 with pintle I93. The pedal may then be swung downward into the solid-line position of Fig. 6 and the extremity of cable 52 looped over pin I99. The dotted-line position B of Fig. 2 is one exemplary operating position of the pedal when actuated by the operators foot. The pedal may be conveniently disengaged by detaching the looped end of cable 52 from pin I09 and rotating the pedal into position A. The pedal is then pushed downward until hooks I99 are disengaged from pintle I03. No hand tools are needed to disassemble bracket 45 from clamp 5 or cable 52 and control members 9| and 93 from canoe I.

When the steering device of the present invention is assembled and coupled to the stern of a craft which is water borne, the action of this rudder device is as follows:

The canoe I while floating free will not be affected in any manner by the operation of the steering device 3 if the control members 9I and 93 are undisturbed. If there is relative motion between the water and the canoe, rudder BI is free to swing continuously and thus streamline itself with the water current. This is because the throw of crank pin I9 is less than the limits of throw of the pedals I95. Thus, if the forward motion of the water is greater than that of the canoe I, the normally trailing edge of rudder 6| will align itself with the current so as to be fora ward of the rudder shaft 59.

If desired to direct the canoe I to a port heading, control 93 is actuated so that its pedal I95 is pushed forward to its extreme limit (position B, Fig. 6) and control member SI is not actuated. This action causes the starboard portion of cable 52 to be tensioned and crank pin I9 to be held in a fixed position nearest to the starboard pulley 45. By actuation of control member 9! only, rudder BI may be positioned approximately 45 to the longitudinal axis of the canoe so as to direct the canoe to a starboard heading. These two alternate predetermined positions of rudder SI are determined by the diameter of the crank disc I5, the position of crank pin I9 thereon, and the position of the pulleys 49 relative thereto. Rudder BI may be positioned to any desired intermediate steering'position by cooperative pressure on control members 9I and 93. The relative pressure applied to each pedal I95 will determine the actual intermediate position of rudder 6|.

The rudder bearing assembly 55, together with the rudder bracket 45, is swingabl on the axis of pintle 41 and spring 49, and will swing up when floating or underwater obstruction or debris is encountered by rudder BI 0r shaft 59. As spring 49 serves to bias the rudder shaft 59 down into a substantially vertical position, the shaft 59 will return to this position after the obstruction has been passed over. biased hinging action of bracket 45 on clamp 5 protects all elements of the device 3 from damage. Undue stress is not placed on the canoe I.

Quite frequently when negotiating a curve in a river the rudder may be struck laterally by some floating object. In this case the pivotal action of bearing 55 about bolt 51 serves to protect the device 3 and canoe I from damage. The dotted-line position of bearing 55 in Fig. 3 illustrates this pivotal action. The amount of force required to cause bearing 55 to be disengaged from between shoulders 53 is dependent upon the compressionof spring 58 and the relative dimensions of collar 69 and shoulders 53. In the solidline position. of parts in Fig. 3, the sleeve nests between members 53 (as shown in Fig. 4). In the dotted-line position in Fig. 3, sleeve 85 rides upon members 53 but readily biases back into nesting position after the instigating obstruction has been passed. The compression of spring 58 is conveniently adjustable by nut 62. Thus, combined hinging action about pintle 41 and pivoting action about bolt 51 may occur if the impact of the obstacle against rudder BI is at an angle to the direction of movement of the boat. This combined hinging action, together with the free rotation of shaft 59 and the sliding action of sleeve 55 in bushing 51, renders possible universal movement of rudder 6 I It is to be understood that clamp 5 will also serve as an excellent outboard motor mounting. This is one advantage of the quick-detachable character of the rudder post assembly. In such a use, clamp 5 is most conveniently mounted by means of the ali nable bolt I, which may be so moved by arms 25 as to insure a snug fit between the jaws of clamp 5 and the stern of canoe I.

In view of the above, it will be seen that the several objects of the invention are achieved and other advantageous results attained.

As many changes could be made in the above constructions without departing from the scope of the invention, it is intended that all matter contained in the above description or shown in the accompanying drawings shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a. limiting sense.

I claim:

1. A rudder construction for a boat comprising a stern bracket, a rudder bracket having a pivotal connection with the stern bracket with the axis of said pivotal connection extending hori zontally and transverse to the longitudinal axis of the boat so that the rudder bracket may swing in the longitudinal vertical plane of the boat. spring means interposed between the stern bracket and the rudder bracket biasing the rudder bracket to swing downward to a generally vertical position, a rudder bearing having a pivotal connection with the rudder bracket with the axis of this pivotal connection transverse to the axis of said bearing, said pivotal connection be ing a slidable connection allowing for bodily movement of the rudder bearing toward and away from the rudder bracket, means biasing the rudder bearing toward and against the rudder bracket, and detent means on the rudder bracket engaged by the rudder bearing when against the bracket for maintaining the rudder bearing in a vertical position.

2. A universal movement rudder construction The spring.

for a boat comprising a stern attachment having a horizontally and forwardly directed recess transverse to the longitudinal axis of the boat, a rudder bracket having a pivot pin removably received in the recess, a spring carried by the pivot pin and acting against the stern attachment to bias the pin against the rearward end of the forwardly directed recess and to bias the rudder bracket to swing downward to a generally vertical position determined by engagement of the bracket with the stern attachment, a rudder bearing carried by said rudder bracket, said bearing being located with its axis transverse to said pivot pin, and spring detent means between said rudder bearing and said rudder bracket normally holding the rudder bearing against said bracket in a vertical position but which permits lateral rotation of the bearing around a longitudinal axis of the boat in response to lateral forces on a rudder supported therein.

3. A universal movement rudder construction for a boat comprising a stern attachment having a horizontal and forwardly directed recess transverse to the longitudinal axis of the boat, a rudder bracket having a pivot pin removably received in the recess, a spring coiled around the pivot pin and having a tongue acting against the stern attachment in such direction as to bias the pin against the rearward end of the forwardly directed recess and to bias the rudder bracket to swing downward to a generally vertical position determined by engagement of the bracket with the stern attachment.

l. In a steering device for boats, a rudder bracket having an opening, a pivot pin slidable in the opening in the bracket, a rudder bearing carried by the pin with the axis of the bearing transverse to the pin, a rudder post rotary in the bearing, a rudder fixed to the post, a spring reacting from the bracket against the pin to bias the bearing toward engagement with said bracket, and a detent means on the bracket engageable by the sides of the bearing when the latter is drawn by the spring against the bracket determining a vertical position of the bearing, the bearing being swingable about the axis of the pivot pin by withdrawal away from the bracket.

5. In a waterproof boat rudder construction, a rudder bracket having an opening, a sleeve having a bolt opening in one side and an aligned access opening in its opposite side, a bolt having a head within the sleeve and having a shank extending through the bolt opening and the opening in the rudder bracket, a bushing slidable in said sleeve and having a first opening in one side which is axially aligned with but displaced from said access opening in a normal position of the bushing, the bushing also having a second opening of keyhole shape and thereby including a head opening and a slot extending axially of the bushing from the head opening, said head opening receiving the head of the bolt when the bushing is in normal position, said bushing being slidabie in the sleeve to an access position in which the first opening in the bushing is aligned with said access opening in the sleeve upon withdrawal of the head of the bolt from within said head opening, the shank of the bolt then being received in the slot of the keyhole opening.

6. Steering means for a canoe comprising a stern bracket having a vertical notch receivingthe stern of the canoe, said canoe having a trans verse horizontal opening in the stern and said bracket having side openings aligned with the opening in the stern of the canoe, a pintle extending loosely through said opening for attaching the bracket to the canoe, said pintle being sufficiently loose in said-canoe opening as to permit shifting of the position of the bracket relative to the canoe, adjustable rotary eccentric means supporting the, pintle-means for anchoring said eccentric means in various positions of adjustment, at rudder bearing afilxed to said rudderbracket, and a rudder post rotary in said bearing for steering movement.

'7. In a rudder construction having a stern bracket for attachment to the stern of a boat, a rudder bracket pivoted on the stern bracket for swinging movement about a horizontal axis trans-' verse to the longitudinal axis of the boat, a rudder bearing pivoted on the rudder bracket for rotary movement about an axis transverse to the axis: of the bearing and extending longitudinally of the boat, a rudder post rotary in the bearing, and a rudder on the post mounted for ment.

8. A steering mechanism for boats comprising a stern clamp fastened to the boat, a bracket hingedly mounted on said clamp and swingable in a vertical longitudinal plane relative to the boat,

at least tWo abutments carried on the aft surface of said bracket, a rudder post bearing pivot-' ally mounted on said bracket between said abut-- clamp in a substantially Vertical coupled positionand to bias the rudder post in a vertical position against movement in a vertical longitudinal plane of the boat.

WALTER LELAND JONES.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 235,823 Staats Dec. 21, 1,880 271,799 Coomans Feb. 6, 1883 475,420 Savage May 24, 1892 570,613 Smith Nov. 3, 1896 812,161 Arnold l Feb. 6, 1906 823,075 Petrich et al June 12, 1906 1,160,296 Linscott Nov. 16, 1915 1,801,612 Pierce Apr. 21, 1931 1,850,669 Harvey Mar. 22, 1932 1,928,626 Lesage Oct. 3, 1933 1,953,599 Grimes Apr. 3, 1934 2,292,609 Buehler Aug; 11, 1942 2,390,135 Tobias Dec. 4, 1945 2,470,137 Brown May 17, 194.9

FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 628,401 France June 27, 1927 steering move- 

